Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fayetteville, NC
VS
Fresno, CA
🏆 Fayetteville leads 13 of 23 categories
Fayetteville
North Carolina
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$53,424
Violent Crime Index
174⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
208,697
Fresno
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,001 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
541,528 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fayetteville, NC
Pros
Homes cost $163k less ($158,500 vs $321,800)
10% less violent crime than Fresno
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Fresno
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (8.4%)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Rent averages $110/mo less ($1,117 vs $1,227)
Cons
Violent crime (660.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Fresno by $9,577/yr
Property crime (3094.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Fresno, CA
Pros
Households earn $9,577 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $321,800
Violent crime (735.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Fayetteville
Property crime (3271.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Fayetteville
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 105.0 (100 = US avg)
Fayetteville
Violent Crime
10% lower
660.2 vs 735.5 per 100k
Fayetteville
Median Home Value
$163k less
$158,500 vs $321,800
Fayetteville
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
8.4% vs 9.0% unemployment
Fresno
Median Income
$9,577
$63,001 vs $53,424/yr
Fresno
Summer Heat
6.8°F warmer
July avg high 97.7°F vs 90.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fayetteville, NC | Fresno, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper | 105.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $158,500 ✓ Lower | $321,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,117 ✓ Lower | $1,227 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $53,424 | $63,001 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.0 min ✓ Shorter | 22.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 5.4% | 8.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 163⚠ High ✓ Safer | 178⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 174⚠ High ✓ Safer | 194⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High ✓ Safer | 156⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.5% ✓ Higher | 24.4% |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% ✓ Higher | 79.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cumberland County Schools | Fresno Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.1°F | 55.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.9°F | 97.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.9" | 11.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 208,697 | 541,528 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.5 | 32.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.4% | 48.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.6% | 27.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.6% ✓ More | 11.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fayetteville's cost of living index is 91.4 vs Fresno's 105.0 (US average = 100).
Fayetteville is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fayetteville leads 13 of 23 categories. Fayetteville wins 13 and Fresno wins 10. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Fayetteville to Fresno or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,500 vs $321,800 median home), income ($53,424 vs $63,001), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fayetteville, NC and Fresno, CA are about 2,269 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.